MAGAZINE
WINTER / SPRING 2018
Making an impact in
INDIA P. 20
SNAPSHOTS
Kickin’ back, student Delaney McNulty relishes a soft lawn and cool shade on the first day of school at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
SLCC student Joslyn Solorzano pitches in to spruce up bulletin boards at Esperanza Elementary School while students Nour Alkheishali and Ariana Gonzalez-Weinstein, below, team up to beautify a classroom.
West High School sophomore Luisa Sanchez prepares for the rigor of college science in SLCC’s PACE scholarship program.
SLCC MAGAZINE | WINTER/SPRING 2018
Dr. Craig Ferrin blasts a tune with The Monte Thompson Fan Club during the annual Spring Fling concert of student musicians at the Center for Arts & Media at South City Campus.
A great way to spell success. SLCC’s Executive Cabinet explores new block letters at South City Campus. L-R, V.P. for Institutional Effectiveness Jeffrey Aird; V.P. for Business Services Dennis Klaus; SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin; Special Assistant to the President Roderic Land; Provost for Academic Affairs Clifton Sanders; V.P. for Student Affairs Charles Lepper; V.P. for Government and Community Relations Timothy Sheehan; and V.P. for Institutional Advancement Alison McFarlane.
WINTER/SPRING 2018 | SLCC.EDU
CONTENTS
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | WINTER/SPRING 2018
20
S T UDY IN INDI A
FEATURES
10
16
26
28
LEGACY OF GIVING
TANNER FORUM
INCLUSIVITY VOICES
SOFTBALL SISTERS
Gail Miller's foresight and generosity will shape education at SLCC for years to come.
NPR's Mara Liasson on news, education, women in the media and the survival of democracy.
What does inclusivity mean to you? Students sound off with candor and personal experience.
Sara and Tara are on the softball team. One is coach, the other a player. It's a family affair.
Pictured on the cover: psychology major Parker Lewis at Taj Mahal. 2
SLCC MAGAZINE | WINTER/SPRING 2018
10 SLCC Magazine is published biannually by the SLCC Institutional Advancement Division. Vice President for Institutional Advancement Alison McFarlane 801-957-4103 alison.mcfarlane@slcc.edu Editor and PR Director Joy Tlou 801-957-5099 joy.tlou@slcc.edu
16
Managing Editor DB Troester 801-957-4443 david.troester@slcc.edu
26 SECTIONS 4 BY THE NUMBERS 5 RECOGNITION 6 TECHNOLOGY 10 G I V I N G 14 A L U M N I 16 T A N N E R F O R U M 20 S T U D E N T S 28 A T H L E T I C S 30 M E E T O U R F A C U L T Y
Lead Writer and Photographer Stephen Speckman 801-957-5076 steve.speckman@slcc.edu
28
Lead Designer Carol Ross 801-957-3804 carol.ross@slcc.edu Alumni Relations Laurie Staton 801-957-4654 laurie.staton@slcc.edu Giving and Development Nancy Michalko 801-957-4247 nancy.michalko@slcc.edu Available online at: slcc.edu/about/slcc magazine.aspx
34 C O L L E G E S P O T L I G H T 36 N E W A P P O I N T M E N T S
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BY THE NUMBERS 63%
Average increase in wages within one year of earning a Career and Technical Education (CTE) degree or certificate from SLCC.
53%
$4.7
million
Increase of Hispanic students at SLCC from 2012 to 2017. Read more about diversity at the college, pages 26 and 34.
20
Total savings for students since 2014 using OPEN SLCC, free online textbooks and course materials. Read more, p. 7.
$3.8 million
23%
Percent of classes taught online at SLCC.
Number of SLCC programs converted to a competencybased education (CBE) model since 2014. Read more on the opposite page.
Record annual amount raised by the college Development Department, in 2016-2017.
10,130
Number of ePortfolios created by SLCC students in 2016-2017.
25,000+
Refugees helped annually at the Utah Refugee Education and Training Center at the SLCC Meadowbrook Campus.
4
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RECOGNITION
“We strive to make our learning environment conducive to working adults..." – Dr. Eric A. Heiser, SATTS dean
SLCC NAMED A TOP INNOVATIVE COLLEGE The national magazine Washington Monthly named Salt Lake Community College to its list of “Twelve Most Innovative Colleges for Adult Learners.” The list recognizes institutions that have adapted to better serve adults who are 25 and older. SLCC was singled out by the Washington, D.C.-based magazine for using a $2.3 million federal grant to convert programs in its School of Applied Technology and
Technical Specialties (SATTS) to a competency-based education (CBE) model. The effort began in 2014. The federal grant provided resources to transition 20 shortterm, workforce-based programs from a “clock-hour model” of learning into account skills already acquired, usually on the job. “We strive to make our learning environment conducive to working adults who are coming
GET TING CREDIT FOR EXPERIENCE Administrative Office Specialist Air Conditioning/Heating/ Refrigeration Accounting Clerk Certified Nurse Assistant Clinical Lab Assistant Computer Network Engineering Computer Support Specialist
back for retraining in a new job or to upgrade their skills in their current position,” said Dr. Eric A. Heiser, SATTS dean. “We believe competency-based education is a great way for adult learners with real-life experience to accelerate their studies and move more quickly toward certificate and/or degree attainment. Our innovative, subscription-based tuition program gives these students the ability to save not only time but money as well.”
SLCC PROGRAMS CONVERTED TO CBE
Diesel Systems Technician Electronics Automation & Instrumentation Electronics Technician Graphic Designer Health Information Specialist Manual Machinist
Medical Coding & Billing Medical Office Administration Network Administrator Professional Truck Driving Website Designer Web Programmer Welding
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5
TECHNOLOGY
L-R, Silicon Slopes Executive Director Clint Betts leads a panel discussion with Salt Lake Community College President Deneece G. Huftalin, Utah State University President Noelle Cockett, Commissioner of Technical Colleges Dave Woolstenhulme and Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland.
LEADING THE WAY IN FILLING TECH JOBS With Gov. Gary Herbert’s call for a working group to address Utah’s rapidly growing IT workforce needs, Salt Lake Community College President Deneece G. Huftalin suggests looking at the success of the Utah Aerospace Pathways program as a model to quickly fill the need.
When in 2015 the state’s aerospace industry sounded the alarm for more skilled workers, Huftalin recalls how administrators from K-12 and higher education joined forces with state officials and private industry such as Orbital ATK and Boeing. They tweaked curriculum and developed fasttrack pathways from schools into aerospace jobs. Later that year, the first students were on their way toward graduating from high school with certificates in aerospace manufacturing. “I’ve never seen anything move that fast in higher education,” Dr. Huftalin says. “It makes great sense 6
SLCC MAGAZINE | WINTER/SPRING 2018
to do something we’ve already done that has worked well and take those features and employ them in the IT industry.”
Utah’s growth in tech jobs in the last few years has been in the 7 percent range. But thousands of tech jobs go unfilled, despite starting salaries of $60,000 or more. In response, Herbert announced in a forum of educators and industry leaders at Silicon Slopes that he plans to form a collaborative group of educators and private-sector executives to create an IT Pathways Program. Dr. Huftalin is encouraged by his proposal. “There are folks in industry who are very passionate about helping us, and they’re willing to listen and step in, whether that’s with training, helping us build curriculum, whether it’s with internships, there’s a lot of industry interest in this,” Dr. Huftalin says. “So, we can take advantage of that and harness that.”
AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW:
UTAH AEROSPACE PATHWAYS The first semester of Utah Aerospace Pathways occurs in high schools, the second at SLCC and Davis Applied Technology College. Students participate in paid internships during their senior year in high school, preparing them to work for industry partners. Aerospace partners include Boeing, Harris Corp., Hexcel Corp., Hill Air Force Base, Janicki Industries and Orbital ATK. Envision Utah recognized the program in May with a “Your Utah, Your Future Award.”
DITCHING TEXTBOOKS SAVES MILLIONS More than 54,000 students have saved an estimated $4.7 million in three and a half years through a college effort to provide free, online textbooks and resources for courses.
Dubbed OPEN SLCC, the effort started in 2014 and has offered online materials for over 2,600 courses, saving money for students who otherwise would have had to purchase costly textbooks. The average savings per course to students was $100. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, says SLCC Director of Educational Initiatives Jason Pickavance. The college’s goal is to increase OPEN SLCC offerings and save a total of $5 million through 2018. “Our intent is to maximize educational opportunities, to make it easier for students to learn and succeed, while minimizing their costs,” he says. OPEN SLCC provides learning materials that can be legally and freely downloaded, edited and shared. They include textbooks, curricula, syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, tests, projects, audio, video and animation.
The number of OPEN SLCC courses at SLCC since 2014 Math
855
English
735 233 188 148 128
History Geography Education Biology
104 Business 75 Political Science 154
0
Other 200
400
600
800
1,000
Total: 2,620
SOLAR TECH SAVES MONEY, HELPS ENVIRONMENT
Solar panels atop Salt Lake Community College’s Lifetime Activities Center (LAC) and elsewhere on SLCC campuses continue to help the college go green and save money.
More than 1,400 panels were installed on the roof of the LAC in 2015, which in 2016, the first full year of use, generated 530,105 killowatt-hours, saving the college thousands of dollars in power costs.
The 255-watt LAC panels were paid for with an incentive from Rocky Mountain Power and state funds. The panels in 2016 produced 29 percent of the energy to power the LAC.
Another 102 panels supplement electricity for facilities and storage buildings at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, and 48 panels help to power the Science and Industry building. The Miller Campus has 104 panels and solar
panels will be installed on the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center, expected to open in fall 2018.
“The main benefit is that the panels produce clean energy without any emissions, providing a more environmentally responsible source of supplemental power while reducing overall energy costs at the college,” says SLCC’s Assistant Vice President of Facilities Services Bob Askerlund.
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TECHNOLOGY
ENGINEERING TECH STUDENTS DEVELOP SURGICAL DEVICE
L-R, SLCC student James Pyne, nView’s Keith Nelson and SLCC student Jordan Kingsford examine a scanning device they helped develop.
E
ngineering technology students and their SLCC instructor helped develop a scanning device to give doctors instant access to real-time X-ray images of specific areas along the spine during surgery. The 4D imaging device will improve a surgeon’s accuracy, shorten a patient’s time in the operating room and reduce costs associated with a spinal procedure. It’s being developed by Salt Lake City-based nView. The students created a component of the 8
SLCC MAGAZINE | WINTER/SPRING 2018
product, funded through a $40,000 National Science Foundation grant to help community college students gain industry experience. “It was basically an idea on paper,” says nView founder and CEO Cristian Atria, who began development in 2014. A successful simulation led to a prototype and to the device nView now wants to use for clinical trials. Atria hopes the device will be approved by federal regulators and ready for surgeries in 2019.
SLCC engineering technology Assistant Professor Allen Tanner and his students were asked in early 2017 to help develop an alert system for the nView device, to avoid X-ray exposure. The alert system is required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for nView to commercially market the surgical product. Students created a switch interface panel for inside the device. They made sure the hand and foot controls worked properly and that the light and sound of
the alert system met exact FDA regulations. They also learned to deal with materials vendors. “It was a lot more in-depth than we originally expected,” says Jordan Kingsford, 24, who graduated from SLCC in May with an AAS in electronics engineering. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering at Weber State University. “I really enjoyed taking the machine apart and testing different portions to see why things were failing or why they were working.” James Pyne, 28, a soldering expert, created the switch interface panel. “For me, the big part was coming in and designing from scratch, going through all of the steps. It will be nice to see this working in the future,” he says. Pyne graduated from SLCC in May with an AAS in electronics engineering and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering at Weber State University. Atria was impressed by the efficiency of SLCC students. “We realized, ‘Oh, these guys know what they’re doing.’ It was a great experience for us,” he says. “I think the down-to-earth, practical approach was really beneficial to the project.” Top: SLCC engineering technology Assistant Professor Allen Tanner, top left, and SLCC students look on as nView employees review images generated by a scanning device his students helped create. Middle: L-R, nView’s Lisa Last; SLCC Assistant Professor Allen Tanner; nView founder Cristian Atria; SLCC student Jordan Kingsford; nView’s Keith Nelson; and SLCC student James Pyne. Bottom: The scanning device SLCC students worked on helps doctors see a spinal surgical area more clearly. Shown here is an example of a mock spine.
WINTER/SPRING 2018 | SLCC.EDU
9
GIVING
GAIL MILLER
Decades of Dedication 1996
Few have given as much of their time, talents and donations to SLCC as Gail Miller and her late husband Larry H. Miller. Their impact on education and the college will continue to be felt by students, employees and the community for years to come. Here’s a timeline of a few of their meaningful contributions.
Larry H. and Gail Miller create the Larry H. Miller Education Foundation to provide educational assistance to dependent children of full-time employees of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. The foundation has helped more than 3,150 students at 60 universities and trade schools nationwide.
2001
Miller Campus donated to SLCC. Valued at $130 million, the completed campus is believed to be the largest private gift to a community college in the nation.
2004
Gail Miller appointed to the SLCC Board of Trustees.
2011
Gail Miller becomes vice chair of the SLCC Board of Trustees.
2012
SLCC’s Washington, D.C., internship program begins. Miller was influential in its creation and sustainability.
2013
Miller elected Board of Trustees chair.
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2013
SLCC’s annual golf tournament scholarship fundraiser is named the Gail Miller Utah Leadership Cup. Since then, the tournament has raised more than $800,000 for student scholarships.
2013
Construction of the $29 million Academic and Administration building at the main Taylorsville Redwood Campus is complete. Miller helped secure state funding.
2013
The $45 million Center for Arts & Media is complete at South City Campus. Miller helps to secure state funding for the new facility.
1998
Construction of the Larry H. Miller Campus begins in Sandy.
2000
Larry H. and Gail Miller dedicate and open the first building on the Miller Campus.
2006
Miller Campus is complete, consisting of seven buildings. Today, more than 1,800 students at the campus access automotive training, public safety education, entrepreneurial development, corporate partnerships and culinary arts.
2008
Gail Miller receives honorary doctorate from SLCC for philanthropic efforts toward women and children in jeopardy and her dedication to educational scholarships.
2016
Awarded the Pacific Region Trustee Leadership award by the Association for Community College Trustees for her influence in national initiatives that promote funding for community colleges.
2017
Miller ends her tenure as chair on the Board of Trustees and is named trustee emeritus for SLCC.
Construction begins on the $42 million Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center. Miller was instrumental in securing state funding.
2014
Roger L. Miller Automotive Internship created in memory of the Millers' son, Roger L. Miller.
WINTER/SPRING 2018 | SLCC.EDU
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GIVING
TEEING OFF FOR SCHOLARSHIPS The annual Gail Miller Utah Leadership Cup at Hidden Valley Country Club in Sandy raised nearly $200,000 in 2017 for student scholarships at SLCC. More than 40 teams competed, with 26 corporate-sponsored teams and 15 holes sponsored by corporations in the September tournament. Dozens of SLCC students volunteered to help at the course, alongside SLCC staff. Gov. Gary Herbert joined Trustee Emeritus Chair Gail Miller and SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin to greet players and talk with students. Winning teams for flights one, two and three were JPMorgan Chase & Co., MountainStar Healthcare and Deseret First Credit Union. Jeff Beacher won the award for the straightest drive while Steve Koch and Brady Machin smacked the longest drives. Beau Etling's deft touch landed him the "Closest to the Pin" award for the day.
THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR SPONSORS Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation Mountain America Credit Union George S. and Dolores DorĂŠ Eccles Foundation Sinclair Oil Corp. Grand America Zions Bank Utility Trailer Sales of Utah L-3 Technologies Utah Media Group Utah Food Services
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WE’VE GOT SKILLS
JPMorgan Chase Prepares SLCC Students for High-growth Jobs Many of Utah's employers in growing job sectors are experiencing challenges in finding job candidates with specific skills needed to fill positions. At the same time, many Utah residents in underserved populations (minorities, women, veterans, refugees) need training to obtain employment. With support from JPMorgan Chase & Co., the college is addressing these challenges. Following are a few key components of the workforce instruction program being developed:
JPMorgan Chase’s global philanthropy focuses on workforce readiness, small business growth, financial capability and community development. Its partnership with
EDUCATING SLCC created new degree and certificate programs to train unemployed workers for career opportunities in industries including information technology, advanced manufacturing, transportation and health care. FUNDING JPMorgan Chase provided grant funding to support SLCC workforce readiness efforts and offered access to research and data to analyze and pilot solutions for workforce demands in the area. RECRUITING/PLACEMENT Working with the Department of Workforce Services and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, SLCC identified people from underserved populations to participate in the
“We feel that it is imperative that the private sector step up to apply solutions to critical social needs.” Cat Martin
educational programs. The college is partnering with businesses to place students who completed coursework into high-growth job fields. One hundred percent of students who completed the coursework in the program found employment. Moreover, the majority of employed students looking to further their careers through job-specific training have advanced in their careers.
SLCC helps fulfill the firm’s commitment to inclusive economic prosperity. “Many people, including women, veterans and communities of color, have not had the same access to opportunities for economic mobility that others have had,” says Cat Martin, JPMorgan Chase relationship manager for the Pacific Northwest and Utah markets. The program will continue to focus on workforce-readiness support for underserved populations in 2018-2019.
" We are appreciative of the partnership that SLCC has enjoyed with JPMorgan Chase over the last several years. Their substantial investment in SLCC workforce-readiness programs has helped our faculty train hundreds of students from underserved populations in job sectors experiencing explosive growth in Utah. This strategic approach has helped our students obtain entry-level jobs in high-growth industries as well as job-specific skills needed to move up in their current professions and provide better lives for their families. We are sincerely grateful to Cat Martin and the JPMorgan Chase team for the impact they’ve made on our college and in our community.”
— DR. DENEECE G. HUFTALIN,
SLCC PRESIDENT
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ALUMNI
YOU'RE ONE OF US If you’ve completed courses at SLCC, you’re considered a member of the Alumni Association and join 400,000 fellow alumni.
Shawn Newell
Membership in the association is free and comes with benefits, networking opportunities and more. Find out more at slcc.edu/alumni. Select “Alumni Association” to register and help us keep you informed about activities and benefits.
Alumni council sets growth goals A re-energized Alumni Leadership Council, led by SLCC Trustee and Council President Shawn Newell, is working to strengthen the college’s Alumni Association. The 10 council members are “energetic and bright people who all care about SLCC,” says Newell. He worked with the council to update its bylaws to ensure that they reflect the college’s objectives. The council is working to achieve larger objectives and goals, including: CREATE CONNECTIONS
Newell wants to motivate SLCC alumni to get involved with the college and to stay engaged. The benefits are twofold. Alumni bring energy and enthusiasm to SLCC, and they benefit from staying connected with other alumni for social and career networking.
SPREAD THE MESSAGE
Newell encourages fellow alumni to acknowledge and reflect on the benefits they have received
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from attending SLCC and to share their experience about SLCC’s educational opportunities. “The education students receive at SLCC is second-to-none, and I want them to realize that and have pride in that,” Newell says. GET INVOLVED
Newell hopes the Alumni Leadership Council serves as a central hub of alumni activities for SLCC. He wants to work with other departments and alumniaffinity groups to coordinate efforts.
He acknowledges it might take time for the council to achieve these goals, but is looking forward to the work ahead. “I want to stay involved with the college from here on out. I think it is important to be part of the growth here and to be part of the changes that are going on, including the new alumni council bringing some new energy to the campus.” Read more about Alumni Leadership Council President and Trustee Shawn Newell. P. 37
ALUMNUS PROFILE
Kent R. Whipple As the seventh of nine children growing up in Rose Park, Kent Whipple’s first lesson in entrepreneurship was a simple one: “If you want spending money, you have to earn it.”
At age 10, he hunted night crawlers and sold them for 35 cents a dozen. “You can make a lot of money, you just have to catch a lot of worms,” he says. Flash ahead 48 years and Whipple, a Salt Lake Community College alumnus, is chairman and owner of Whipple Service Champions, a plumbing, drain cleaning, HVAC and electrical company with 114 employees, 52 “ SLCC gave me my start, and helped me develop the confidence and foundation to go on and succeed academically and in business.” service trucks and $15 million in annual sales. He built the company after graduating from SLCC with two associate’s degrees and transferring to the University of Utah to earn two more degrees, including an MBA. His father was a plumber and taught him the trade, but Whipple always viewed plumbing as a means to a greater end, to own and manage a large company.
It took hard work, including years of hands-on plumbing, as well as creation of a systemized model of
service. Getting an education was key to success, he says.
At SLCC, he committed himself to do all extra credit offered. “I knew I needed all the help I could get,” he says. He was diligent and always made sure to read assignments and figure out problems before teachers’ lectures. “Maybe it was because I was compensating for feelings of inadequacy.” It paid off with a 4.0 GPA when he graduated.
Business success didn’t come overnight. “There were years when I didn’t make a profit. I didn’t know how to be successful,” he says. He purchased rental properties in Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake and refinanced them through the years to extract $1.5 million in equity to loan to Whipple Service Champions. “The company wouldn’t have grown or even survived without some type of outside funding,” he says.
From 2006-2013, he organized and chaired “Mastermind 9,” a peer group of nine plumbing and HVAC company CEOs, who helped one another to improve and grow their companies. Peer groups are important, he says. “No one does it alone.” Whipple transitioned from CEO of his company to chairman in 2013 and recently started a consulting company to coach CEOs. “I really have found that helping other businesses gives me fulfillment,” he says. SLCC Associate of Applied Science, plumbing — 1993 SLCC Associate of Science, business — 1995 University of Utah Bachelor of Science, business — 1998 University of Utah MBA — 1999
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TANNER FORUM
Mara Liasson O N N E W S , E D U C AT I O N , W O M E N I N M E D I A A N D T H E S U R V I VA L O F D E M O C R A C Y
NPR National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson spoke with SLCC Magazine regarding the nature of news, education’s role in preparing students to discern truth in media, fact-finding in this era of “fake news” and the future of our democracy. She was this year’s speaker at the Tanner Forum on Social Ethics, held in November at Salt Lake Community College’s Grand Theatre. Liasson provides extensive coverage of politics and policy from Washington, D.C., focusing on the White House and Congress, and also reports on political trends beyond the Beltway. She has reported for NPR for over 30 years and was NPR White House correspondent during Bill Clinton’s presidency and for six presidential elections. Her reports can be heard on NPR’s award-winning newsmagazines, “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition.” Liasson also serves as a contributor to Fox News Channel and is a panelist on “Fox News Sunday.”
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Tanner Forum on Social Ethics For nearly two decades, the Tanner Forum on Social Ethics at Salt Lake Community College has featured national and international speakers, authors, activists, dignitaries, leaders and humanitarians. Supported annually by O.C. Tanner Company, the forum brings students, faculty, staff and community members together in thoughtful examination of critical issues. Speakers have included Nobel Prize winner Mario Capecchi; economist and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Kolbert; National Geographic Society Explorer-inResidence Wade Davis; and best-selling author and social activist Cheryl Strayed, among others.
L-R, SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin, Mara Liasson and philanthropist Barbara Tanner at the reception for the SLCC Tanner Forum at the Grand Theatre.
Thoughtful discussions enlarge our understanding of the world and ourselves. Salt Lake Community College is grateful to O.C. Tanner Company for helping to sponsor this impactful event.
Community colleges ‘heartbeat’ of the future NPR National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson believes community colleges drive social and economic mobility. “People go in as working-class families and they come out as middle-class Americans,” she told a group of about 20 SLCC students at a roundtable discussion preceding her public appearance at the Tanner Forum on Social Ethics at South City Campus’ Grand Theatre. Community colleges are the “heartbeat” of the future, she said, likening them to conveyor belts for social mobility. “Community colleges are really, really important,” she said. The students asked varied questions at the hour-long roundtable discussion. Liasson’s answers covered topics that included what positive things she might derive from a Trump presidency. “I think
it’s great that young people seem to be engaged in a way that we haven’t seen since (President) Obama. I mean, you could say that’s a silver lining.” She told journalism student Marcos Aragon that social media platforms as a news source will not supplant factbased journalism from major networks like CNN and Fox. Liasson also gave her take on the November 2017 election outcomes, calling them a huge morale booster for Democrats. Her advice for future journalism students in the room was simple. “You have to be a good writer,” she says. “Even if you’re shooting video, you have to be a good storyteller.”
SLCC student Chandler Arnold at the SLCC Tanner Forum. WINTER/SPRING 2018 | SLCC.EDU
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Exclusive Q&A with Mara Liasson Q: What is higher education’s role in helping students figure out how to consume news in this increasingly complex atmosphere? A: To me, becoming a smart consumer of news means trying to tell the difference between fake news and real news. And by fake news I mean news that is literally false. Fake news of course immediately became an epithet for anything you didn’t like in the news. But I think becoming a good citizen and learning about civics and what democratic institutions are, what democratic values are, goes handin-hand with learning how to read a newspaper, a website, your Twitter feed or your Facebook feed and tell
When the whole notion of objective truth or facts get called into question ... it's a challenge for citizens in a democracy."
the difference between something that is made up, not based on facts at all, and something that is fact-based. … I think it’s one of the most important tools that a citizen in a democracy can have. And I, quite frankly, don’t want to be too apocalyptic about this, but I don’t think a democracy can survive unless its citizens are well-informed, and that means knowing the difference between what’s fake news and what’s not. … That’s the role of not just higher education but K through 12. Q: News is increasingly partisan, from Fox to MSNBC. In what ways is this good or bad for democracy? A: There was always partisan media, and ever since the founding of the Republic, there have been newspapers with particular points of view. There was a time when opinions were kept to the editorial page, and the news segment, the news sections of newspapers, were fact-based. Now, I think the best situation for informed consumers of media in the United States is where you have these organizations who say, ‘Okay, we’re going to go out, we’re going to find the facts,’ and then people can draw different conclusions about them.
Mara Liasson and SLCC Communication and Performing Arts Associate Dean Nick Burns at the SLCC Tanner Forum at the Grand Theatre.
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Q: Some have said that freedom of the press has come under attack by our current president. How has the media reacted? How should it react to such a full, frontal attack? A: I think it should react by doing our jobs, period. I think that when press freedoms are curtailed around the world, we report on that and hopefully people support us, and that would be the same in the United States. The president has certainly attacked us, and you could make the argument that even though all presidents don’t like the press and they certainly don’t like their press coverage, he’s taken it to a new level. But it’s also true that the president loves the media and is obsessed with the media. And in a weird way, he is extremely accessible to the media. At least his psyche is very accessible, because we get to know what he’s thinking and feeling and angry about within seconds of thinking and feeling it through his Twitter feed. I think our response is, we just need to do our job. Q: How do you think the attacks have influenced public opinion of the press? A: I think that public opinion of the media is very partisan. I think I saw a poll where something like 91 percent of Democrats trusted CNN more than Donald Trump and 91 percent of Republicans trusted Donald Trump more than CNN. I think that they’re very partisan, but we’ve never had a president who routinely denigrates the press and often falsely. … So this is something we just have to live with. I don’t think it’s anything where we’re going to change what we do because of it. I think the main response for regular journalists is to just continue doing our job.
I feel I haven't had to break a barrier or tear down a glass ceiling." Q: How has journalism changed in the past few years?
Q: You’re an NPR correspondent and a Fox News contributor. What sort of criticism or pushback have you maybe received as a result of audience perception that one leans left, the other leans right? A: The main pushback I’ve gotten, although I have to say it’s been very rare in recent years — and I’ve been at Fox for about 18 years and I’ve worked at NPR for about 32 years — was from listeners of NPR who didn’t think I should be on Fox because it’s a conservative network. And I was lending them legitimacy because I’m a kind of straightforward analyst, or maybe they thought I was meant to be the token liberal there. I totally reject that. I think if anything, I was a token female. But I don’t think I was there to represent any particular point of view. I don’t say anything different on Fox than I do on NPR. And I would say that’s been the only pushback. But like I said, I haven’t really heard a complaint about my presence on Fox for a long time. … I would say on the shows that I appear on, there’s a mix of views.
Q: You mentioned being token female. How has the role of females in journalism changed over the years? A: I was kind of tongue-in-cheek on that. That’s a hard one for me to answer, because I’ve worked at NPR for 32 years, which historically has had women in prominent on-air roles. When I came, I was the second generation of female reporters at NPR and I was following in the footsteps of Cokie Roberts, Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer and Susan Stamberg, who were the founding mothers of NPR, as we used to call them. Or sometimes they called them the fallopian club. So I feel I haven’t had to break a barrier or tear down a glass ceiling or anything like that. I merely followed in the wake of these incredibly talented journalists who happened to be female at NPR.
A: Journalism has changed a lot. I think for those of us in the “mainstream media” who still try to do fact-based journalism and kind of straightforward analysis, our job hasn’t changed. The core of our mission has not changed. Certainly all the technology around it and the platforms on which we present our news and our content has proliferated. … But the core of our mission is the same as it’s always been. However, there are now tremendous numbers of partisan-oriented news organizations. There are organizations that don’t see their mission as being factbased, and that has created tremendous challenges for those of us in the mainstream media. Because, when the whole notion of objective truth or facts gets called into question, it’s difficult. And I think that’s a real challenge for journalists. It’s a challenge for citizens in a democracy. So, there are lots and lots of challenges for those of us in the mainstream media.
Mara Liasson with SLCC student Jamielee Eldridge at the SLCC Tanner Forum.
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STUDENTS
IMPACTS OF SLCC STUDENTS FELT
A WORLD AWAY STUDENTS AND FACULTY HELP OTHERS IN INDIA AND IN TURN, GROW BEYOND THEMSELVES SLCC alumna Hawa Hassan Yarow vividly recalls — and was shaken by — meeting a boy in Wai, India, who looked a lot like her younger brother, except the boy was begging her for money. Psychology major Parker Lewis relishes his experience of teaching public health and fitness in schools in Wai and seeing children’s faces light up with excitement and anticipation.
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It’s those kinds of impactful stories that Salt Lake Community College students told over dinner on SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin’s first night in Wai. “The tears were flowing,” Dr. Huftalin says. “They see humanity in a much more expansive way. They see world problems that they don’t have to deal with. They understand what education can do to change the world.”
SLCC business major Victoria Matthews, center, taught Indian grade school students.
EDUCATION WITHOUT BORDERS Far from a typical summer vacation, the expedition to India for several SLCC and Westminster College students provided nothing short of a transformative educational experience while strengthening a community halfway around the world. It was a trip they will never forget. “I feel like a new person with a new focus and perspective coming back to America,” says Lewis. “My whole life as I knew it and ever experienced was confined to the West Coast. Literally being on the opposite side of the world was so liberating.”
A partnership with Westminster College, the study abroad program focuses on community engagement and learning about other cultures. It provides college credit as a business elective, focusing on global business, manufacturing, supply chain and corporate social responsibility. Students see the
impact of globalization on India’s rural communities; industrial slums; artisans; and culture. SLCC business major Victoria Matthews summed up her experience: “This adventure was all about getting out of your comfort zone.” She plans on starting a business someday. “If you aren’t doing things that scare you every day, then you aren’t truly living and feeling alive.”
“I think it’s important to connect with the way students learn,” Dr. Huftalin says. “This is a highimpact practice, to learn in the field, doing something that’s very hands on. You don’t have to go to India to do this kind of learning. But I think it’s important to know that Salt Lake Community College has a variety of high-impact practices, and this is one example.” It’s difficult for SLCC students who work and have families to take part in traditionally longer studyabroad programs. Dr. Huftalin hopes that more students will
SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin
experience shorter-term, focused and intentional projects, such as study abroad in India and Costa Rica. Everyone involved benefits when local entities guide students and faculty toward a community’s most pressing, education-related needs, she says.
“ My experience was life-changing in India, and it is what prompted me to double major in international studies and to do more service in the world.”
– SLCC alumna Hawa Hassan Yarow
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE As part of the study abroad program, students began working with local tech college Surabhi Computers to use geographic information system (GIS) technology to map Wai. The ongoing GIS project received critical buy-in from government officials in Wai. It will positively impact the local postal system, travel and tourism, emergency response and infrastructure improvements, such as plumbing and bringing toilets into homes and businesses, says SLCC Assistant Marketing Professor Jennifer Klenk, who coordinated the study abroad and accompanied the students in India.
Former SLCC Trustee Dr. Ashok Joshi, originally from India, was a driving influence in the India study abroad program, helping fund a women’s microfinance project that the students followed up with while in Wai (population 36,000). Joshi impressed upon students the importance of connecting communities from around the world to learn and grow from one another. Dr. Huftalin praised his efforts over several years to invest in education in Wai, helping to build or rebuild schools and a library. She views that type of assistance as vital to expanding and evolving study abroad opportunities in India and in other study abroad programs at SLCC. Hawa Hassan Yarow, now at the University of Utah working toward degrees in Film & Media Arts, and International Studies, received a scholarship funded by Dr. Joshi to pay for the India trip. “I’ve never been outside the United States,” says Yarow. “My experience was life-changing in India, and it is
what prompted me to double major in international studies and to do more service in the world. I gained a new global perspective on life and a better service-oriented aspiration for the future. My service in India is something I want to do and apply elsewhere around the world.”
Dr. Huftalin joined students and faculty for part of the trip. “It was wonderful watching the students in action at the local Wai middle school,” she says. “They had been there for a week teaching students and working alongside them. It was clear they had developed strong bonds with the students even in that short time and had learned a lot about themselves and their own lives in the process.” BUILDING BRIDGES FOR GLOBAL PEACE The trip included students giving speeches at the Global Summit on Science and Spirituality for World Peace in MIT, Pune India. Student Parker Lewis spoke about neuroscience and spirituality during the peace conference summit and Hawa Hassan Yarow spoke about
her Native American heritage and how it ties into the subject of science and spirituality.
SLCC School of Business alumna Vera Loveless managed to get about 10,000 conference goers to sing in harmony as part of a speech about world peace and music. Professor Klenk spoke at the summit about the importance of diversity and inclusion in world peace. Entrepreneurs in India who partner with the study abroad are great examples of corporate social responsibility, she says. “Our students work with our community partners to exchange ideas and bridge communities.”
The Global Summit followed the opening of the new Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was awarded the World Peace Prize for his work in leading his church’s worldwide humanitarian efforts. He received an $8,000 cash prize and donated it to Akshar School for special-needs children, one of the places SLCC students worked while in India. Dr. Huftalin also addressed the summit, highlighting the themes of science and spirituality, but it was her observation of student activities that left an impression on her. “Several of them were chosen to speak at the MIT Global Peace Summit and were beautifully poised and professional in their comments about spirituality, science and the hope of world peace,” she says. “I was so proud to watch them in action and to have them represent SLCC and the United States so artfully.”
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STUDENTS
SCHOL ARSHIPS HELP S TU
STEM
O
STUDENTS SAY
nly 60 years ago, minority groups and the economically disadvantaged, who might have hoped to become scientists and engineers, faced obstacles rooted in hate, notes Dr. Clifton Sanders, provost for Academic Affairs at Salt Lake Community College. People in these groups were viewed as not smart enough, he adds, while speaking to a group of newly minted scholarship recipients pursuing degrees and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
More specifically, these 27 scholars are part of SLCC’s TRIO STEM scholarship program, a partnership between SLCC’s School of Science, Math and Engineering, and the National Science Foundation. The program assists low-income and first-generation college students. Scholarship recipients study in STEM fields. “So, with programs like this at Salt Lake Community College, we stand against hate,” Sanders says. “We stand for inclusion and diversity. Diversity in STEM, just like everywhere else, is a strength. It is an asset. It is not something to be set aside. It is in the best interest of our best self as a nation and as a community. We lost a lot through hate. We don’t intend to see that happen again.” The scholarships, some worth up to $10,000, have been awarded to students who are considered continuing or new recipients. Some awardees have already moved on to four-year institutions to continue their STEM studies since the TRIO STEM scholarship program began in 2016.
Dr. Craig Caldwell, dean of the SLCC School of Science, Mathematics and Engineering, encourages TRIO STEM scholars to stretch themselves and seek research opportunities beyond the classroom. “Extraordinary students like you can do extraordinary things when they’re given extraordinary opportunities,” Caldwell says. “By accepting this scholarship, you agree you will seek out those opportunities.”
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ARAFAT DJOBO
NEW 2017 SCHOLAR
Before, I had two jobs and was going to school full time and taking care of my family back in Africa. My GPA was dropping. I had no time to study. I was that close to giving up on school. I felt like I had no support. But TRIO, they definitely gave me the support I needed.”
DENTS TO S TEM C AREERS
AUBRY LINES
NEW 2017 SCHOLAR
If I didn’t have the TRIO STEM program, I wouldn’t have done my internship this past summer. It was an amazing opportunity. Having TRIO STEM behind me, and all of this support, I am encouraged to reach out. It feels like a family atmosphere.”
FEBECHUKWU “FEBZ” MEGWALU
You guys are making a big impact on people’s lives, and I will be forever grateful.”
CONTINUING SCHOLAR
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STUDENTS
WHAT STUDENTS THINK SLCC defines inclusivity as “the active, intentional and ongoing commitment to ensuring that all members of the campus community are able to fully and meaningfully participate in and contribute to all aspects of campus life (i.e., in the curriculum, programs and resources, and in practices and processes). It is the involvement and empowerment of all members of Salt Lake Community College, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized and valued.” We asked students what inclusivity means to them and what the college can do to enhance it. Here’s what they said:
AGE 36 SOUTH JORDAN STUDYING DR AFTING AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES
Wants to be a cabinet and furniture designer Started at SLCC spring 2017 It means not to single out individuals, not to single out specific people or groups. It’s about opportunity for everyone. I landed here at SLCC because there are so many degree options. SLCC offers so many, which allows the college to reach out to anybody. It allows a sense of community between different people from different backgrounds. It doesn’t matter where you are in your life, you can all come together in the same place.
AGE 16 DR APER STUDYING ASTRONOMY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Wants to be an astronomer Enrolled at Corner Canyon High School, graduating in 2019 Started at SLCC summer 2017 It’s kind of like everyone’s getting along with each other, no matter their background or race. You just have to have an open mind about everything. It’s hard not to judge, but you have to be open to talking and meeting people. My astronomy class is really small, like 12 kids. The instructor has group discussions, and it’s nice to have that push to interact.
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EVERYONE MATTERS AGE 23 SALT L AKE CIT Y MA JORING IN PHOTOGR APHY
Wants to be an artistic photographer Started at SLCC fall 2015 For me, it involves all the cultures, all the means, all people. Inclusivity for me is putting together all these people so we can work together. In the end, we are human beings. We can live together. We can work together and I think we as humans, we can learn from other people. It’s the reason I love this country, because here, there’s a lot of diversity and you can learn from that. I love the college because it organizes cultural events and brings speakers who talk about this. For this reason, I am still here at this college.
Providing equal opportunity and inclusivity at Salt Lake Community College is a top priority. The college promotes several efforts to foster an inclusive environment, including the President’s Committee on Inclusivity and Equity; I Am SLCC; and the Inclusivity Project. PRESIDENT’S COMMIT TEE ON INCLUSIVIT Y AND EQUIT Y • A diverse 22-member committee drawn from across the college to strengthen inclusivity at SLCC
• Monitors, reviews and analyzes employee diversity and ethnicity to mirror community demographics • Recommends policies and revisions to ensure inclusive environments collegewide
• slcc.edu/president/committeeon-inclusivity-and-equity.aspx I AM SLCC
AGE 18 SALT L AKE CIT Y GENER AL EDUCATION COURSES
Wants to be a lawyer Started at SLCC summer 2017 To me, inclusivity means involving everyone, whether it be people of different sexual orientations, different ethnicities or races. It’s important to include all people. It just means involving people, making everyone feel like a person, instead of dehumanizing them because of your stereotypical fears. I feel like SLCC does a good job. All of my professors have been accepting. The students have been accepting. I think it’s refreshing. Here, it’s like people care.
• A college commitment to understand the benefits and value that diversity brings to our campuses
• A pledge to acknowledge and respect individuals and groups who shape the culture of our college and broader community
• A pledge to customize your own inclusivity commitment at slcc.edu/inclusivity/iamslcc/ pledge.aspx INCLUSIVIT Y PROJEC T • A project to collect student input via the written word
• An opportunity for students’ voices to be heard to start a conversation on inclusivity
• Students write their thoughts on inclusivity cards and post them on whiteboards across campuses WINTER/SPRING 2018 | SLCC.EDU
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ATHLETICS
ONE COACH, ONE PLAYER SISTERS UNITE ON SOFTBALL FIELD
Salt Lake Community College's softball team has become something of a family affair for the Bendt sisters. Actually, it’s a family affair that’s been ongoing for the better part of a decade. SLCC softball Assistant Coach Tara Bendt played on the college’s softball team alongside her identical twin sister, Kara, in 2007-2008. Tara played center field and Kara was a pitcher. Sara, their younger sister by 10 years, cheered from the sidelines while proudly donning SLCC apparel. “She was always at our games, and she was, like, 7 years old,” says Tara. Fast forward to the present and Tara’s sister is again by her side. This time, however, it’s Sara, who was recruited in 2016 to play softball for the college. “Both of my sisters talked about how great their experience was at SLCC,” Sara says. “That was a big influence for me.” During her freshman year of high school, Sara and her parents left Utah to return to their native South Dakota. Sara graduated from high school in Rapid City, but she never wavered in her focus on returning to play ball for SLCC. “As I got into high school, I was like, SLCC is definitely my ideal school.” 28 S L C C M A G A Z I N E | W I N T E R / S P R I N G 2 0 1 8
Sara Bendt
Tara Bendt
SHE WAS ALWAYS AT OUR GAMES, AND SHE WAS, LIKE, 7 YEARS OLD.”
– SLCC Softball Assistant Coach Tara Bendt
Her first year playing for SLCC was nearly ideal as well: The women’s softball team had an extraordinary year, finishing No. 2 in the nation in 2017. Both sisters are hoping for another great season. “We have some good talent coming in and we have some good returning talent,” Sara says. Tara and Sara, who live together, have slightly different views about one thing: Their relationship on the field. As a coach, Tara says everyone on the team is treated the same, with equal opportunities for play and for earning their places on the field toward the end of the season, when it comes time for regional and national tournaments. But
Sara says Tara is harder on her than on other players. Still, she respects her for it. “Because I’m her sister, she doesn’t want to be even the slightest bit easy on me, which is good,” she says. Sara and Tara have a good relationship and are able to separate their team and family roles. “When she’s coaching me, she’s hard on me and expects the most out of me,” Sara says. “As soon as we come home, we’re just sisters.” Sara is working on her general education requirements while on a scholarship at SLCC. After 2017-2018, her final year at the college, she hopes to play softball for two more years at a university
while earning a bachelor’s degree. She hasn’t decided on a major, but is hoping to follow in her sister’s footsteps. “I’m kind of hoping to go the same route as Tara and be a coach someday,” Sara says.
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MEET OUR FACULT Y
Kerry Gonzรกles Associate Professor / School of Arts, Communication & Media
WHY WORKING AT SLCC MATTERS:
The diversity of SLCC has a positive influence on helping our students learn compassion for others and responsibility for themselves. With open enrollment, more students have access to higher education and job training. Greatest professional challenge: Our Graphic Design students need to be ready for the workplace upon graduation. Because SLCC is a two-year college, our students are not only in competition with students from four-year institutions, but also with graphic designers already working in the field. As a result, the Graphic Design program is designed to be very comprehensive. We work very hard to cover as much as possible to help our students succeed. Time is always the challenge. However, our successful alumni are proof of a successful program! Greatest professional accomplishment: Maintaining a strong ongoing connection with alumni! The ability to work with students, from beginning through advanced capstone classes and then onto graduation and beyond, has been so rewarding. I maintain contact with over 200 alumni and regularly invite them to be guest speakers/ reviewers in my classes. When current students work directly with alumni, they can see that a career is possible. The INK website as well as the INK Shows I promote each fall showcase this alumni connection. Visit the site at inkslcc. wordpress.com.
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20 Number of years teaching at SLCC
What she teaches: Beginning Type & Layout; Advanced Type & Layout; Advanced Design; Package Design; Advertising Workshop; Advanced Independent Studies; Exploring Art.
It is good to be different." Advice for students or others: Raising the bar is a good thing. If projects or assignments are always easy, what's the point of taking a college class? A good project challenges students to think critically. To succeed, students need to be passionate, problemsolvers, self-starters, persistent and reliable. They need to demonstrate responsibility and be able to handle consequences. However, the most important, or at least in the top 10 of the attributes list, is the ability to maintain a good attitude. I’ve
seen so many talented people fail or not progress because of their bad attitude. Conversely, I’ve seen many with average beginning skills, become very successful primarily because of a positive attitude and a willingness to keep trying and learning. Future plans: To improve the graphic design program as much as I can by continuing to look for educational opportunities and incorporating them in my classes. I look forward
to working with the Graphic Design Faculty to actively promote and recruit potential students. Hobbies: Reading, reading and reading! A little gardening and roaming unsupervised through antique stores. I support various nonprofit organizations and I stand for human rights, equality, the environment, animal rights, education, the arts, common sense, compassion and responsibility, among others.
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MEET OUR FACULT Y
Henri Miller History Professor / School of Humanities and Social Science WHY WORKING AT SLCC MATTERS:
Given that freedom of speech and thought is under attack, including on college campuses, it is important to provide actual diverse perspectives and interpretations, especially in history courses. Greatest professional challenge: Being able to meaningfully squeeze in hundreds or thousands of years of history into courses limited by a finite amount of instruction time.
Why dress in period costumes: I try to share my passion for history with others, and beyond just stressing the seriousness and significance of the past, one important way to share that passion is to show you can also have fun with it. It grabs the attention of students and peers, not to mention random passersby, and if I can be an entertainer, it complements being an educator.
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Greatest professional accomplishment: Hearing the feedback from my students who have taken my courses and knowing I have changed lives for the better. I am moved by the sincerity and sense of accomplishment that many students convey throughout and at the completion of my history courses. When students tell me they are now interested in history or have been enabled to become more effective critical thinkers due to my courses, I rejoice that I made a difference in their lives. Hobbies: History. It is my pastime in addition to my profession. I am a historical re-enactor and enjoy traveling to historical locations. Future plans: To continue making history relevant and share my passion and enthusiasm with others.
8
Number of years teaching at SLCC
Prior teaching experience: Utah Valley University, Sacred Heart Middle School, Granite School District
What he teaches: History 1700 Western Civilization to 1500 Western Civilization since 1500 World History
Students enjoy the class because he brings history to life with his costumes and love of history.
Advice for students or others:
Think for yourself. History is a resource when one has questions in life: use it. Stand up for yourself. No one is going to stand up for you but you. And finally, become someone, make a positive difference in your world and in the lives of others." HENRI MILLER
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COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT
The office advances and supports an inclusive learning environment that promotes the college’s values, advocates for equity, celebrates diversity, fosters respect and elevates access, retention and academic excellence.
DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS AT SLCC Top growth in the last five years
Hispanic Students 53% growth
3,566 12.3%
Asian Students 16.5% growth
5,456 18.4%
FALL 2012
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966 3.3%
FALL 2017
Multiracial Students 112% growth
1,125 3.8%
% of total student population
406 1.4%
861 2.9%
The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs supports underrepresented students through coaching, student-success workshops, cultural programming, mentoring and more. These include:
Amigos Mentores Student Council and Peer Mentoring Program Americorps Education Award Program (financial awards for community service) Brother 2 Brother (B2B) Mentoring Program (supports students who identify as male through faculty-staff to student mentoring) Student Inclusivity Ambassadors (volunteers who move the needle on cultural awareness and programming)
LOCATIONS Taylorsville Redwood Campus Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Offices: STC 236B - STC 236L Phone: 801-957-4954 South City Campus Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Room SCM 1-140 Offices: SCM 1-061G-H; SCM 1-061G-G Phone: 801-957-3349
GearUp (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Horizonte Scholar Mentoring Program Multicultural Student Council (strengthens student involvement, celebrating intercultural enrichment and diversity) Olene S. Walker Transition to Adult Living Scholarship Mentoring Program PACE (Partnership for Accessing College Education scholarships) TRIO Educational Talent Search College Bound (assists high school students to achieve success and prepare for college) Westside initiatives (efforts to provide educational access and community relations on the west side of Salt Lake Valley through SLCC West Valley Center)
LEADERSHIP SHELLIE JO ENSCOE DIREC TOR
BA, American Studies, University of Washington Tacoma MA, Organizational Leadership and Development, Chapman University “We support student access and success through a variety of multicultural student success initiatives, cultural programs, mentoring and coaching.�
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NEW APPOINTMENTS
SLCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES CLINT W. ENSIGN, Chair Ensign serves as senior vice president for the Sinclair Oil Corp., overseeing government relations for The Sinclair Companies. He has served on the SLCC Board of Trustees since 2011, and as vice chair from 2014-2017. He led fundraising efforts by chairing the Gail Miller Utah Leadership Cup for five years. He also serves on the Public Policy Committee of the Association for Community College Trustees.
MARIA FARRINGTON, Vice Chair Farrington is the executive director of Holy Cross Ministries and has been a community leader for more than 20 years in not-for-profit organizations and schools. Prior to HCM, she served as Discovery Gateway children’s museum CEO. She represents the Board of Trustees on the SLCC Foundation Board. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2015 and was elected vice chair in 2017.
LORI CHILLINGWORTH (New Trustee) Chillingworth is director of enterprise retail banking for Zions Bancorporation. She was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders from 2007 to 2013 and has been recognized five times in U.S. Banker magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Banking” issue, ranking among its “25 Women to Watch.” She served on the SLCC Foundation Board from 2005 to 2013.
SANCHAITA DAT TA Datta is CEO and cofounder of FatPipe Networks. Datta and her husband, Dr. Ragula Bhaskar, invented FatPipe’s unique technology, router-clustering. She was named one of Utah’s top female executives by Utah Business and received the Woman Innovator Award from the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Datta has served on the Board of Trustees since 2013 and has worked to build stronger STEM education pipelines and IT training opportunities.
LINDA LUCHET TI (New Trustee) Luchetti is vice president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz. Before joining the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies in 2005, she handled public relations for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, as well as press and media positions with the 2004 Paralympic Games; the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney; and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
W. TIM MILLER Miller is president/CEO of Echelon-Frontier, a leading, private biotech company. He directs acquisitions, technology licenses, and product launches targeting pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. He was awarded the Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology. Miller established Angel Flight in Utah to provide free non-emergency medical air transportation for those in need, and started Santa Flight to deliver holiday packages to Utah children in need. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2015.
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NEW APPOINTMENTS
SHAWN NEWELL, Alumni Council President (New Trustee) Newell is vice president of business development for Industrial Supply Company and has been with the company more than 20 years. The SLCC alumnus is vice president of the NAACP’s Salt Lake Chapter and a member of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission. Newell also started a scholarship for SLCC marketing students. He is president of the SLCC Alumni Leadership Council.
AYNOA RINCON, Student Association President (New Trustee) Rincon is an international student double majoring in political science and economics. She is the first Hispanic woman elected student association president at SLCC and represents the association on the Board of Trustees. After graduating from SLCC in 2018, she plans to transfer to the University of Utah and obtain a degree in international relations. She was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to the United States in 2015 at the age of 17 to study English.
BRADY SOUTHWICK (New Trustee) Southwick is senior vice president of field operations at Vivint Smart Home, which specializes in security systems and smarthome technology. He served as president of Cummins Rocky Mountain and was instrumental in developing the current Utah Diesel Technology Pathways program that connects high school students to workforce training at SLCC and ultimately careers in the diesel industry.
JIM M. WALL Wall was publisher at Deseret News Publishing Company, Inc. from 2000-2010. Prior to that, he served as executive vice president and general manager of The Denver Post. He has volunteered extensively with community organizations and boards, and was honored in 2004 as the American Heart Association's "Heart of Utah" recipient. He has been on the Board of Trustees since 2015.
GAIL MILLER, Trustee Emeritus Miller is chairman of the board of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. She served on the SLCC Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2017, was vice chair from 2011-2013 and chair from 2013-2017. She and her late husband Larry H. Miller built and donated the Miller Campus to SLCC in 2001. She has been a tireless advocate for SLCC for many years and was awarded Trustee Emeritus status in 2017. She continues to champion the SLCC mission and support fundraising for the college.
JEFFREY AIRD VICE PRESIDENT FOR INS TITUTIONAL EFFEC TIVENESS
Aird earned his juris doctor and master of public administration degrees from Brigham Young University after completing his undergraduate work at Utah State University. He was hired by SLCC in 2013 as the director for Institutional Inquiry and Analysis. He became an adjunct faculty member at SLCC and the acting director for Institutional Research in 2014. He was promoted to assistant vice president for strategy and analysis in 2015. In 2015, Aird guided SLCC through a comprehensive selfevaluation that resulted in a high number of commendations from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. He developed and implemented a college decision-making structure to improve interdivisional collaboration. Aird previously worked for the Utah System of Higher Education and as adjunct faculty at BYU and Utah Valley University. He replaces Barbara Grover, who retired after 23 years at SLCC.
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4600 S. Redwood Road P.O. Box 30808 Salt Lake City UT 84130-0808
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Endowing Our Future It’s easier than you think.
Change the lives of SLCC students through a gift to our endowment.
WAYS TO GIVE:
Charitable Bequests | Beneficiary Designations Charitable Gift Annuity | Charitable Life Income Plans
LEARN MORE: slcc.giftlegacy.com or contact 801-957-3780 or Kendra.Angell@slcc.edu